Continuing its series of historical, seasonal repertoire from the Middle
Ages through the baroque eras in association with The Metropolitan Museum,
EARLY MUSIC NEW YORK presents 18th- century, New England Shape-Note anthems
and fuging tunes by William Billings and his contemporaries (Asahel Benham,
Samuel Holyoke, Jacob Kimball, Merit Woodruff, Daniel Read, William Selby and
others).

Popular tunes used for social dancing were brought from England by way of
several 18th- century issues of "The English Dancing Master" by the publisher
John Playford. Dance tunes heard on this recording (flute, violin, bass
violon and guitar) include the holiday titles "Christmas Cheer," "The Merry
Wassail," "New Year's Eve," "New Year's Day in the Morning," and "Twelfth
Eve."

A medley of Dances, Marches, Airs and Song Tunes collected by colonial
soldier, Captain George Bush, from his notebook dated 1779, round out this
album of seasonal music from the Colonies.